Lewis second

BY ANDRES FOCIL

FAYETTEVILLE – Former University of Arkansas women’s golf great Stacy Lewis fired a final round 66 but came up one stroke short at the Tres Marias Championship in Morelia, Michoacan, Mexico, Sunday.

If her position weren’t enough to be exciting Lewis has the added honor of playing with the world’s top-ranked player In Lorena Ochoa who is retiring after the tournament. Ochoa follows in the footsteps of Annika Sorenstam, who also retired when she was on top of the rankings.

Lewis got better as the tournament continued. She opened with a 71 followed by a 68, 69 and a final round 66 for an 18-under 274. She was second to Ai Miyazato who went 19-under with a 273 including a final round 67. Miyazato enjoyed a $195.000 payday while Lewis collected $121,275 for the weekend.

Lewis was a four-time All-American and NCAA Champion while at Arkansas. She turned professional after leading the Razorbacks to the program’s third NCAA Championship appearance and is the most decorated golfer in program history.

Lewis has earned nearly $350,000 in three seasons on the LPGA tour. She tied for 19th this season at the Kraft Nabisco Championship and posted a 22nd-place finish at the season-opener at the Honda PTT LPGA Thailand.

Lewis’ career-best finish was a tie for fourth at the Wegmans LPGA as she carded a season-low 67 during the second round. She matched that with a 67 in the second rounds of the LPGA Corning Classic and the Evian Masters, P&G Beauty NW Arkansas Championship.

The Razorback women’s golf team returns to the links Wednesday at the NCAA West Regional hosted by Stanford in Palo Alto, Calif.